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The story is one of hardy adventure involving the note of hardship in almost the same degree as that associated with voyages to the far North. There were countless perils to be encountered, and the experiences of the party on their scientific quest have all the interest of romance pure and simple. The St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat, January 10th, 1903

{HISTORY}

The Colorado River has been in the news a lot lately due to climate change, drought, and negotiations between several western states on how its water supply should be handled going forward. A crucial waterway for Wyoming, Utah, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada, the river has long held a place of importance in both the history and the topography of the United States. To understand its impact on life today, it’s necessary to go all the way back to the beginning to see how this mighty river affected and influenced life and livelihoods from the moment it was first discovered in the 16th century.

In 1902, Frederick S. Dellenbaugh (1853-1935) published The Romance of the Colorado River detailing its history from its first discovery in 1540 by Spanish explorer Hernando de Alarcon all the way to Frederick's own journey in the early 1870s on an expedition alongside explorer John Wesley Powell (1834-1902) to finish tracing and mapping uncharted canyons long the river.

A thorough story of the Colorado from all angles, complete with over 100 illustrations, fold-out maps, photographs, and line drawings, Frederick's book is a fascinating account of the river's significance on civilization, science, exploration, and agriculture. It's also a riveting story of daring adventure as explorers risked their lives to travel the course of a river fraught with danger and uncertainty at every turn. Lauded by book critics and history buffs alike, Frederick's story of the Colorado was especially enjoyable not only due to his compelling narrative but also the inclusion of dozens of illustrations, which added context and relatability to the text for a truly engaging reading experience. 

Nowadays, this book is very hard to find in its original early printings and remains an important and highly readable work on the subject of the Colorado River, indigenous people, and Western expansion. Beautifully presented with decorated coverboards, a tissue flyleaf on the title page, deckled edge pages, and top-edge gilt, this is a lovely book for anyone interested in natural history, early exploration stories, and the expansion of the American West. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• September 1904 Second Edition published by G.P. Putnam's Sons 
• 400 pages, not including additional advertisements for suggested books following the detailed index
• Illustrated throughout
• Hard to find edition

{CONDITION}

In lovely antique condition, this book is entirely intact with a tight spine and all pages strong and secure. There is a 1-inch area of wear on the outer spine and some fraying at the top and bottom edges. There is light foxing on the front and back endpapers. The interior glossy pages are very clean and bright. A 1904 gift inscription is written in pencil on the front endpaper. All of the illustrations, including the fold-out map are in great shape and very clean. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Measures 9" inches (length) x 6.25" inches (width) x 1.5" inches (thickness) and weighs just a smidge under 3 lbs.